Syriana
“Syriana,” is likely to be the most genuinely important studio film we’re going to encounter this year. Here writer director Steve Gaghan goes back to the original inspiration of his academy award winning work with 2000’s “Traffic,”(rather then following the footsteps of his disasterous directorial debut “Abandon.”) in telling a tale where personal drama affects global events.
The story centers on CIA lifer Bob Barnes (whose real life counterpart Robert Baer’s memoir “See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA’s War on Terrorism” serves as inspiration for this screenplay) in the midst of an arms deal, a rising corporate lawyer (Jeffery Wright) in the midst of a merger, and a rising young executive (played by Matt Damon) trying to land an oil deal in the middle east. For the purpose of time and space however these explanations are vastly simplified.
“Syriana,” is a film that demands all restroom breaks are to be taken before and after the film. Even the present viewer must pay the closest attention to whispered conversations in hotel rooms, family barbeques, or a simple exchange of pleasantries completely off setting the main players pregnant glances. It’s the rare political thriller where most of the violence is conveyed in conversation.
“Syriana,” makes the rare Hollywood move of not underestimating its own audiences’ IQ. It does this to both its own astonishing success and to its own detriment. Anyone predisposed to world events and Middle Eastern politics and easily able to saturate themselves into a world of under the table dealings, and about face casual betrayals will find “Syriana,” utterly intoxicating for its intellectual heft. Those more drawn by the film’s promised marquee value are more likely to be frustrated and give up on the experience entirely.
While sharing the same narrative structure and visual style with 2000’s “Traffic,” (the visual stylizing is so similar it’s easy to forget that Steven Soderberg didn’t direct this film). “Traffic,” was more accessible. Not only were the politics of “Traffic’s” underworld more direct, but the human cost and consequences of drug trafficking and drug use, were never kept long from the audience’s eye. “Syriana,” however, is more involved with events that are yet to transpire, (events such as the change of rule in Saudi Arabia) and the misfortune that befalls the main players is more closely associated with the spectre of tragedy then anything involving political upheaval.
“Syriana,” however, has more to offer in terms of constructive political dialogue. “Syriana,” ties the United States’ economic hegemony, to the loss of the economic opportunity in the Middle East, to the rising wave of terrorism, but again this is vastly simplified.
“Syriana,” is easily one of the most triumphant movies of the year, and easily the most triumphant of George Clooney’s career. Clooney shows a rare reserve in his portrayal of Bob Barnes, an apolitical CIA agent who suddenly grows a conscience. The personal character arcs keep “Syriana,” grounded. All the while it’s able to get its global point of view of across, the personal drama helps keeps the audience along for the ride.
by Dave Fults